Your children can provide clues to their vision problems. If they avoid coloring, lack hand-eye coordination in playing ball, rub their eyes frequently and bump into objects, they may have an underlying visual disorder, according to the American Optometric Association, or AOA. Visual skills clearly impact a child's social, academic and motor skills; as a result, several states require mandatory eye exams. Because some conditions may worsen without intervention, seek advice from a pediatrician, optometrist or ophthalmologist.
Retinitis Pigmentosa
Retinitis pigmentosa often appears during childhood. A child first experiences night blindness, then slowly loses peripheral vision. The disease progressively narrows the field of vision, leading to "tunnel" vision. The AOA explains that this inherited disease attacks the retina, specifically the rods, which is the sources of peripheral and night vision, and to a lesser extent the cones, the sources of color and central vision. In adulthood, vision continues to deteriorate.
Retinoblastoma
Retinoblastoma is the most common cancer affecting the eyes of young children and the 10th most frequent cause of cancer in children. A child may inherit this condition from a parent or develop it sporadically by chance. The condition results from mutations in a gene on Chromosome 13 that normally prevents tumor growth. The Rush University Medical Center reports that up to 75 percent of children develop cases in only one eye, limiting vision. However, hereditary cases lead to cancer in both eyes.
Strabismus
"Crossed eyes," or strabismus, is a condition that often limits a child's vision, creating double vision by age 3. Although most children's eyes work as a team, those with strabismus have weak muscle control or extreme far vision. The condition may affect the child all the time or only after close reading or exhaustion. Without treatment -- eye surgery, therapy or glasses -- the condition worsens. An untreated eye that continues to turn in the wrong direction may lead to amblyopia, or lazy eye, resulting in permanent loss of vision.
Nystagmus
Nystagmus can develop in children as a genetic condition or show up later in life as the result of an accident. Because the eyes make involuntary movements in any direction, the person cannot focus on the objects and suffers vision loss. Often the cause remains unknown, although nystagmus may provide a clue to another eye problem.
Cataracts
At birth, infants may have congenital cataracts, often clues to Down syndrome or lack of an essential enzyme. Doctors may notice a white pupil or nystagmus when examining newborns. Symptoms for older children may include blurry vision and sensitivity to light. Although some children's cataracts do not affect vision, other children require glasses -- or preferably surgery -- to minimize vision loss.
